The goal of the Northwest Genomics Center for All of Us (NWGC) is to provide high-throughput genotyping and
whole genome sequencing (WGS) for individuals enrolled in the All of Us Research Program using a highly
successful pipeline that has produced genotyping on nearly two hundred thousand samples and tens of
thousands of high quality human genomes. The Northwest Genomics Center brings together three internationally
recognized PIs (Nickerson (Contact), Eichler, and Jarvik), with decades of expertise in high-throughput clinical
genomics and, together with their Co-Investigators, have returned tens of thousands of variant interpretations to
patients. As we have done in the past with other NIH programs, we will coordinate our efforts with the All of Us
program team in the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), the other centers in the
program such as the Data and Research Center (DRC) and the Biobank, and other Genome Centers if selected.
To advance the goals and objectives of the All of Us Research Program we will produce and interpret variants
from genotyping arrays for up to 100,000 samples in year 1 and up to 200,000 samples in years 2 - 5. We will
also produce and interpret variants on more than 10,000 samples by WGS in year 1; up to 100,000 samples in
year 2; and up to 200,000 samples in years 3-5 using the Illumina NovaSeq platform. To accomplish this, we
will:
1- Work with the All of Us program, the DRC, the Biobank, and other groups to deliver an efficient and
effective process for evaluating and completing high-throughput genotyping and WGS, call variants, and
interpret the impact of variants in the ACMG 59 genes and other genes as indicated by the program in a
CLIA-certified environment.
2- Interact directly with the Biobank to carefully develop the logistics and methods for preparing and
receiving samples.
3- Track all samples and data transfers for all samples at every stage of the process (from project initiation
to data delivery using our secure, completely interactive, and integrated laboratory information
management system (LIMS)) and provide reports to the program, the DRC, and other groups as required.
4- Provide genotype and WGS data of the highest quality, in formats required by the program such as IDAT
files for genotyping and CRAMs and VCFs for WGS.
5- Provide a team of specialized personnel and staff versed in the workflow of a well-established highthroughput
CLIA-certified genome center. These include individuals specifically trained in DNA sample
receipt, quality control, and large-scale bioinformatics analysis and variant interpretation.
6- Assist as needed with additional data interpretation (beyond the ACMG genes), with publications (i.e.,
materials and methods), and other activities as required for the program.
7- Provide secure backup of raw sequence data from the samples and all metadata associated with the
project (i.e., sample tracking, storage, and QC information).
The NWGC has worked successfully for more than 20 years with the NIH on
a number of impactful, large-scale projects, and has a highly experienced
team with a proven track record that is empowered by a robust administrative,
computational, and instrumentation infrastructure that is state-of-the-art and
can rapidly facilitate the goals of the All of Us Research Program.
Depending on the needs of All of Us, the NWGC is flexible to handle the
minimum number of samples proposed in all years while also being able to
quickly scale to accommodate the maximum throughput needed by the All of
Us Research Program (Table 1). The NWGC has extensive experience
scaling in a short timeframe and has always met project goals and deadlines.
The NWGC has a complete understanding of the requirements needed to be
a full partner for the All of Us program and is fully capable and prepared.